Everyone knows management interests me, says Shearer

Alan Shearer in his playing heyday with Newcastle United. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Alan Shearer has offered a glimmer of hope to those, such as Sir Bobby Robson, who see him as the great redeemer who can lead Newcastle United from the barren land in which they have recently been stranded.

Asked about the golden recommendation recently offered by Robson, the former striker did not rule out the possibility that he will return to St James' Park as manager once the club are finally sold.

"Everyone knows I have done part of my coaching badges," he said. "I have not done the pro licence yet, which is mandatory, but I will do it at some stage in the future. I have said it before and I will say it again, management interests me."

Shearer, however, was careful not to be seen to be actively touting for a role currently filled, on a temporary basis, by Joe Kinnear. "I cannot say I would be delighted to come here, because that would be wrong of me," he added. "I can't say where it might happen and I can't say it would be here. Five days is a long time at this football club."

Robson recently recommended Shearer to the club in glowing terms. "Alan might not have any experience but he knows what the club is all about, he knows the supporters, he knows how they feel and he'd be dedicated to it, " the former Newcastle manager said recently as he launched his new book. "Alan will make a very good manager. He's got clout - he had that in the dressing room - he loved the club, he wanted everything right, he wanted training right, everything around the club right."

Shearer was keen not to be seen to be further destabilising the club by laying out a manifesto for the job, with Newcastle currently up for sale and Kinnear bringing a fighting spirit to a team now low in the league. However, it is a state of affairs Shearer is adamant cannot last.

"No one can control what is going on off the pitch but we know the club is for sale and the sooner that is completed the better," he said. "Until it is actually sold the club will struggle to go forward. The longer the club is standing still and no one knows what the future holds, the harder it will be to attract players. It is possible Joe could still be here in January but no player will want to come here while everything is up in the air. You can't expect a player to sign a three- or four-year contract while everything is so uncertain.

"They need to get through to January and get players. They have to try and consolidate. The FA Cup may give them a chance of something but it is very doubtful they will do well in the league now. So they have to write the league off and get some stability."

Shearer also said that if he did go into management it would be on his own terms. The way Kevin Keegan was treated was not, he insisted, something he would tolerate. "If it is right what has been reported and players were bought without his knowledge, he was right to do what he did. That seems to be an ongoing trend in our league, that other people apart from the manager are running the football club. Personally I don't think that system works in our league."